How To Wash Throw Blankets To Keep Them Soft

woman sitting in a chair with a throw blanket over her lap and a throw blanket in a basket

The Ins And Outs Of Washing Fuzzy Blankets And Throws

The only creature I know who loves a soft, fuzzy throw blanket as much as I do is Kell and Aliyah’s dog Kona. I always keep a basket of cozy blankets within arm’s reach of my favorite chair, and he is more than happy to snuggle up next to my blanket whenever I have one on my lap.

The first time this happened, I thought I’d wash the blanket afterward to rid it of any lingering dog hair. That’s when it hit me—I couldn’t remember the last time I’d washed any of my throw blankets!

That obviously wasn’t a great sign, so I decided to brush up on my knowledge of exactly how to wash throw blankets and how often I should be doing it. And that’s what I’ll be sharing with you in today’s post!

By the end of this post, you’ll not only know how often to wash throw blankets, but how to do it safely too. With proper care and cleaning, you can ensure that your favorite throw blankets stay clean, soft, and cozy for as long as possible! :-)

How Often Should You Wash Throw Blankets?

On average, you should aim to wash your throw blankets about once a month. But if your throw blankets frequently come into contact with food or pets, you might want to do it more frequently. (Once every two weeks should do it!)

woman putting a throw blanket into a washing and pointing to the delicate cycle button on the washing machine

How To Wash Throw Blankets

Wondering what setting to wash blankets on, or whether to use hot or cold water? As with most fabrics, the safest route for cleaning your throw blankets is to follow the care instructions included on the tag.

If your blanket doesn’t have a tag (or the tag doesn’t include care instructions), follow these guidelines:

Wash your blanket alone.
Select a short, delicate cycle with cold water.
Use a small amount of your normal detergent in the wash cycle. (If you use too much detergent, it’s unlikely that your washer will be able to rinse it all out of the blanket. You can always run an extra rinse cycle to be safe, if your washer has that option.)
Don’t use fabric softener. Many delicate and synthetic fibers don’t play well with fabric softeners, and they can actually make your blanket feel less soft over time.

This method is gentle enough for most types of throw blankets. (And yes, that includes minky blankets too!)

woman hanging a throw blanket over a stair railing to air dry it

How To Dry Throw Blankets

The safest way to dry a throw blanket is to hang it on a rack or line and let it air dry. This is the only way to guarantee that your blanket maintains its shape and stays snag-free. But keep in mind that it could take a LONG time for your blanket to dry completely this way!

A speedier option is to partially dry it in the dryer on a no-heat or low-heat setting. Take it out when it’s about 80% dry, then hang it up somewhere out of the way and allow it to dry completely.

woman sitting in a chair with a throw blanket over her lap

BONUS: My Favorite Throw Blankets

Looking for a cozy throw blanket to keep yourself warm this winter? Here are a few of my favorites:
Eddie Bauer Ultra-Plush Collection Throw – This one was hugely popular on Amazon Prime Day this year!
Graced Soft Luxuries Faux Fur Throw – An ultra-soft, cuddly blanket meets chic faux fur.
Minky Couture Premium Blanket – Based right here in Utah, this company makes some of the softest and coziest throws around!
NTBAY Knitted Throw – A great option if you’re looking for a more classic knitted throw.

Do you have a favorite throw blanket at home?